Zookeeper Interview Exam Questions
and Answers 100% Pass
How would you respond to an emergency at work. - ✔✔Assess the situation, staying
calm and following instructions and protocol and emphasize both public and safety
Communicate promopty with others to determine the next step
Ex: animal got out at last zoo. I was in an enclosure when we got the call to herd the
animal back in. I quickly left the enclosure while making sure I had properly locked
gates and did not leave anything dangerous with the animals I was currenlty with.
Then i followed orders and we worked a team to get the animal back inside quickly
introduce snow leopars for breeding, what would it look like? - ✔✔Based on AZA
breeding managemnt plan: are we introducing into group? Separating males and
females? Must understand life history and hierarchy for this
Provide auditory, olfactory, and visual contact between the newcomer and the new
mate or group.
During the introduction a veterinarian, as well as experienced staff members should be
present with a high pressure water hose or a car, to intervene (Goltenboth et al., 2001).
Introduce between bars for tactile engagement; wait for signs of aggression to die
down;female can be introduced during estrous period
Behavioral conditioning may be able to help introductions
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,The individual is first introduced to either the dominant animal or the entire group.
For final introduction: have safety equipment nearby and people watching for the first
24-72 hours.
what do you do when something derails your plan? - ✔✔I am a very type A person
who prefers when we stick to a plan, but whens something derails its important to
compartamentalize and take in the change quickly if need be and adjust your mind set
and actions to the new plan
Ex: nothing major in zoo field, but sometimes I would come in for the day with a plan of
how I would go about my day and then I would walk in the door and my boss or
coworker would ask for help for a certain task. This would derail my plan, but I was
good at quickly shifting my day or week to accommodate for the change
what would you do if an employee is breaking protocol? - ✔✔Must tell superior
immediately since breaking protocol can lead to animal or human injuries or deat
This industry you have to be strict with breaking protocol
Luckily this has not happened in the zoo!
Ex: telling boss about breaking covid protocols at harvest bar
choice & control-- how did you modify animal care protocols ? - ✔✔Choice-- enhances
bahevaiors by giving them control over their environment
Avoiding learned helplessness
Critical to good welfare
Modify animal care protocls to exemplify the animal's choice in daily activities
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, how would you improve yourself professionally? - ✔✔i care so much about the work
i'm doing that sometimes constructive feedback is taken to heart, but as i've grown in
my career ive become more confident as i grow and learn.
when i build relationships with my coworkers, i feel less intimidated
when i was an intern, this was very true, but I want to be a strong force in the
workplace
why should we hire you? - ✔✔This role focuses on great apes and based on my
experience with a variety of monkey species and other taxa, I know I can fill the
capabailities of this role diligently. are there any key factors i missed in this role?
I have acquired my experience from a variety of places and people and think I have a
well rounded set of husbandry techniques that can be applied.
Qualities they want: Good team player, code red, people who interested across teams,
open to learning ontiusouly, and bettering theirself, ready to take on new tasks, be able
to know limits,
I have a willingness to learn that makes me exceed in any position I am given. I am a
natural born leader and will use this skill to work well in teams.
I am organized, efficient with my work and time. Great at working with a team and as
an independent, my adaptive mindset, and great communciaion skills.
You should hire me because I will bring these skills to your organization. Deep passion
for wildlife that pushes me to excel in the field.
I know will thrive in San Francisco and I resonate a lot with the zoo's mission to:
connect people with wildlife and inspire conservation action in a very urbanized city
walk me through resume - ✔✔each job briefly explain accomplishments related to new
job
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
and Answers 100% Pass
How would you respond to an emergency at work. - ✔✔Assess the situation, staying
calm and following instructions and protocol and emphasize both public and safety
Communicate promopty with others to determine the next step
Ex: animal got out at last zoo. I was in an enclosure when we got the call to herd the
animal back in. I quickly left the enclosure while making sure I had properly locked
gates and did not leave anything dangerous with the animals I was currenlty with.
Then i followed orders and we worked a team to get the animal back inside quickly
introduce snow leopars for breeding, what would it look like? - ✔✔Based on AZA
breeding managemnt plan: are we introducing into group? Separating males and
females? Must understand life history and hierarchy for this
Provide auditory, olfactory, and visual contact between the newcomer and the new
mate or group.
During the introduction a veterinarian, as well as experienced staff members should be
present with a high pressure water hose or a car, to intervene (Goltenboth et al., 2001).
Introduce between bars for tactile engagement; wait for signs of aggression to die
down;female can be introduced during estrous period
Behavioral conditioning may be able to help introductions
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,The individual is first introduced to either the dominant animal or the entire group.
For final introduction: have safety equipment nearby and people watching for the first
24-72 hours.
what do you do when something derails your plan? - ✔✔I am a very type A person
who prefers when we stick to a plan, but whens something derails its important to
compartamentalize and take in the change quickly if need be and adjust your mind set
and actions to the new plan
Ex: nothing major in zoo field, but sometimes I would come in for the day with a plan of
how I would go about my day and then I would walk in the door and my boss or
coworker would ask for help for a certain task. This would derail my plan, but I was
good at quickly shifting my day or week to accommodate for the change
what would you do if an employee is breaking protocol? - ✔✔Must tell superior
immediately since breaking protocol can lead to animal or human injuries or deat
This industry you have to be strict with breaking protocol
Luckily this has not happened in the zoo!
Ex: telling boss about breaking covid protocols at harvest bar
choice & control-- how did you modify animal care protocols ? - ✔✔Choice-- enhances
bahevaiors by giving them control over their environment
Avoiding learned helplessness
Critical to good welfare
Modify animal care protocls to exemplify the animal's choice in daily activities
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, how would you improve yourself professionally? - ✔✔i care so much about the work
i'm doing that sometimes constructive feedback is taken to heart, but as i've grown in
my career ive become more confident as i grow and learn.
when i build relationships with my coworkers, i feel less intimidated
when i was an intern, this was very true, but I want to be a strong force in the
workplace
why should we hire you? - ✔✔This role focuses on great apes and based on my
experience with a variety of monkey species and other taxa, I know I can fill the
capabailities of this role diligently. are there any key factors i missed in this role?
I have acquired my experience from a variety of places and people and think I have a
well rounded set of husbandry techniques that can be applied.
Qualities they want: Good team player, code red, people who interested across teams,
open to learning ontiusouly, and bettering theirself, ready to take on new tasks, be able
to know limits,
I have a willingness to learn that makes me exceed in any position I am given. I am a
natural born leader and will use this skill to work well in teams.
I am organized, efficient with my work and time. Great at working with a team and as
an independent, my adaptive mindset, and great communciaion skills.
You should hire me because I will bring these skills to your organization. Deep passion
for wildlife that pushes me to excel in the field.
I know will thrive in San Francisco and I resonate a lot with the zoo's mission to:
connect people with wildlife and inspire conservation action in a very urbanized city
walk me through resume - ✔✔each job briefly explain accomplishments related to new
job
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
